Get off the Couch and Ride for Dads
I began writing the following post a while ago. Then, I just seemed to keep going.
Suddenly, there were so many words I wasn’t sure anyone was going to take the time to read it through to the end. I didn’t want to cut anything out, though.
I’m selfish that way, you see.
So, to sum it up for all of you ‘just-the-facts-please-bulleted-list’ people:
- Cancer sucks
- Sitting on couch = super fun, relaxing and enjoyable
- Clothes shrink while you’re relaxing and having enjoyable fun on the couch
- Cancer can go hang itself
- Ride for Dads is a great team with spectacular goals
- Helps you get off the couch, whilst still enjoying the fun and earning the relaxing
- I’ve done many events with TNT
- Didn’t think I’d make it through one day of training with any of them
- I did. Then I finished.
- If I can do it, so can you! (Seriously. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you?)
- If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
- Cancer is a loser
- If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
- If I can do it, so can you! (Seriously. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you?)
- I did. Then I finished.
- Didn’t think I’d make it through one day of training with any of them
- There are several events in which to participate and be on the Ride for Dads team
- You can be a ‘Virtual Rider’ if you don’t have the time or the interest in participating in training or the event, itself
- You’re still contributing to the cause
- Hopefully, you’re able to be active with our team (virtually) on event day!
- Cuck Fancer
- Hopefully, you’re able to be active with our team (virtually) on event day!
- You’re still contributing to the cause
- Cancer Sucks
Here’s the elongated version for those of you chillin’ on a couch somewhere and yearning for a good read:
Look. Sitting on the couch is neat. Sitting on the couch for weeks can become addicting.
Over the last several months, I’ve discovered I have an addictive personality.
Sure, I’ve tried to ‘getoffthecouchandfinish’, but what I’ve mostly managed to finish are old television shows, some really cool (and some not so cool) movies and my meals. I’ve barely had to leave the couch for any of those activities and my spot was usually still warm by the time I resumed my position.
Something else I’ve discovered recently – while I was doing all this couch lounging, the clothes I’ve had neatly tucked away in dressers and closets were busy shrinking. I wasn’t aware they could do that on their own, but when I finally got off the couch, there they were. Glaring at me. Daring me to boldly attempt to squeeze myself into them without bursting a button or seam.
I refused to play their game.
So, here I am. Ready to take on the challenge and meander off the couch again. Not only because I simply cannot afford a whole new wardrobe, but also because cancer has touched closer to home than ever for me this year.
I’ve decided to join forces this time, not only with Team in Training, but also with Mary Caulder, Valerie Antkowiak and Mark Pallone. With my three teammates and friends, we’ve formed the Ride for Dads team and will work throughout the upcoming TNT event seasons to raise over $100, 000. In doing so, the RFD team will receive a grant in Mary’s father’s name. After almost 30 years of battling the cancer in many shapes and forms, Jack Caulder succumbed to the disease earlier this year.
In 2006, Valerie lost her father to the same non-hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis he’d received more than ten years prior. After reaching our initial goal of $100,000, the RFD team will continue to work towards our ultimate goal of reaching over $200,000. Once we get to that amount, we will receive another $100,000 research grant in Jerry Antkowiak’s name.
We are starting now and will continue to raise funds up until the day of America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride (AMBBR) on June 3, 2018. The grants will be recognized and presented the evening prior to this event.
This will be my fifth season training with TNT and I will be completing my second triathlon and riding for the fifth time around Lake Tahoe with their support and training.
Like most people reading this, I have seen the effects cancer can have on, not only the diagnosed individual, but their friends and family, as well. This is why I was eager to join forces with Mary, Valerie and Mark in an effort to raise enough money (and more!) to fund cancer research grants in Mary and Valerie’s father’s names.
You can help. If you are already training with a TNT team, chances are, you can join Ride for Dads and your fundraising will be combined with ours and put towards our team’s goal. The funds you raise will still be put towards your own fundraising goal, but they will be ‘counted’ in our team’s total, as well.
If you’re not already on a Team in Training team, you can join one and join our team at the same time! Just click here and head to our web page to get a glimpse of the events offered.
There are several event options – hike, triathlon and cycle, to name a few. If you’ve never done any events like this because you feel as if you would not be able to make it to the finish line or it all sounds too hard or time consuming, then you’re in the same place I was before I decided to take a leap of faith and attend my first TNT info meeting.
That is exactly how I felt. Until I trained for and completed my first 100 mile ride around Lake Tahoe. Then I did it three more times (one more 100 and two 72 mile routes around the lake) and I’m planning my fifth in 2018.
I didn’t stop there, however. As I’ve said, I’ll be doing my second triathlon with TNT and I’ve also completed the Nike Women’s Half Marathon and two Spartans with the support of TNT staff, teammates and coaches.
If you are still unsure about doing the actual event, but are interested in supporting our team’s efforts and training, you can sign up to be a ‘Virtual Rider’ for AMBBR.
As a Virtual Rider, you would sign up and get your own fundraising page – along with a fundraising toolbox and support from other teammates and the TNT staff. You can request donations from anyone you know; friends, family, that cute guy in the checkout line or the gal who hands you your morning joe at the local coffee shop. You get the idea.
Your fundraising goal as a VR would be $250 and you’ll have until mid-May to reach that amount. Then, on June 3rd, 2018, while we’re riding in America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, you simply hop on your bike, walk, jog or do some sort of activity for any distance on your own or with friends or family. That’s it. Simple, right? And you will have done it all to support a great cause and help us to rid our world of cancer, the side effects of its treatment and the fear it instills in all of us, at some point in our lives.